A former accountant for the company which managed the Regency Park and Harbor Chase communities until last May has sued as a ‘whistleblower,’ claiming she was fired for questioning the allegedly shady financial practices of her superiors at the firm, including padding occupancy rates to boost sales bonuses.
Alicia Combs worked as a staff accountant for Vero-based Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA) from November 2022 until she was fired last March 6, allegedly “in retaliation for objecting to conduct attributable to HRA … that violates … one or more laws, rules, or regulations,” according to the complaint filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court for Indian River County.
Vero-based HRA develops and manages high-end assisted-living communities in Florida, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Delaware and Connecticut.
Sagora Senior Living took over management of the two Vero Beach communities from HRA last May.
Combs said she became aware of the allegedly illegal conduct in 2023 and early 2024 when she began to notice that the occupancy rates at various communities were inflated. The padded numbers were presented to the company’s investors, whose contracts are based on occupancy, the suit says.
“This scheme also increased the bonuses paid to the eligible sales team members who are paid extra according to the occupancy percentages,” the suit said. Combs also alleged that refunds due to residents who moved out were delayed and, in some cases, not paid at all, to further misrepresent...
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